The playground at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic elementary was trashed by suspected teenage vandals late Monday night/early Tuesday morning --- just hours before the start of the new school year.
The vandals also took mulch from the park and spelled out the numberrs "666" -- a sign of the devil.
The principal, Colleen McNeal, calls the act "a hate crime."

Kimberly BuchholzA Cleveland Pear tree was stuffed into a small basketball hoop.

I have the full story in today's paper.
Kimberly Buchholz, a parent who organized efforts this summer to make $5,000 in improvements to the playground, sent me a few photos of the destruction.

Kimberly BuchholzKathryn Buchholz, 10, poses in front of vandalized Honey Locust tree at Fatima Park on Tuesday.
Planted in June, the tree was about 25 feet tall and will cost approximately $450 to replace.